Making magic with furniture

March 16, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Deana Rodriguez' finished end table contrasts with a red-colored work in progress. The co-owner of Alchemy Fine Living in Santa Ana demonstrated her furniture remaking techniques, including how to transform vintage side tables into something chic. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Deana Rodriguez of Alchemy Fine Living begins to transform a dilapidated end table into a work of art. After having used TSP on the table, she is shown sanding it down with 220 grit sandpaper. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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After sanding down the end table, Deana Rodriguez begins to lightly paint it. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Gold paint is used as trim color on an end table Deana Rodriguez is working on. The original hardware remains on this piece of furniture, but on other projects it is sometimes replaced. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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After paint was lightly brushed on, it is left to dry. Deana Rodriguez then sands down the dried painted surface with 100 grit sandpaper. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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After the second round of sanding, Deana Rodriguez of Alchemy Fine Living now begins to use an oil-based stain on the furniture. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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After the stain was applied, Deana Rodriguez now begins wiping down the stained surface. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Connie Gayhart and her daughter Deana Rodriguez opened their Alchemy Fine Living boutique in 2008. Deana transforms vintage furniture into something very chic. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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This table at Alchemy Fine Living in Santa Ana is available for purchase. Deana Rodriguez and her mom Connie Gayhart offer antiques with new treasures, as well as having a selection of handcrafted items created by the two of them. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Deana Rodriguez' finished end table contrasts with a red-colored work in progress. The co-owner of Alchemy Fine Living in Santa Ana demonstrated her furniture remaking techniques, including how to transform vintage side tables into something chic. H. LORREN AU JR., ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Alchemy Fine Living Â

You know how you think your life is going to go this way, but then it turns that way and you go with it?

For mother-daughter team Connie Gayhart and Deana Rodriguez, of Alchemy Fine Living in Santa Ana, they never imagined they'd be in the business of transforming old into new.

Gayhart grew up in a creative family of seamstresses.

"We crafted our own sectional sofa when we were kids and thought nothing of it," she said.

But it all started with Gayhart's antique store in Fullerton. And while Gayhart never thought to offer refurbished furniture to her clients, her daughter did.

A dull wood dresser in the store was calling out for a new treatment. Rodriguez painted it shabby-chic white.

"White painted furniture was all the rage eight years ago," Rodriguez said.

The refashioned dresser sold fast.

Today, the team get requests for blacks, reds, dove grays, soft teals and orange – popular colors not easily found in the new furniture markets.

"If you love orange but can't find it at the furniture store, painting an old piece – or new, for that matter – is a perfect solution," Rodriguez said. "We recently had a client drop off brand new Pottery Barn tables."

Antiques mixed with reimagined furniture worked at the antique store until it didn't. Soon, the women were selling more refurbished furniture than not.

"It's not that we paint furniture and put it in our store anymore," Rodriguez said. "Clients are dropping off their favorite pieces by the truckload."

Gayhart hopes clients will fall in love again with a piece that they've had for years.

"Any hard piece or upholstery piece made with good wood and dovetail joints is worth keeping," Rodriguez said. "The cost of refurbishing the piece is only a fraction of what it would cost to buy new of the same quality."

They have a good eye for finding the essence of a piece and making it work with today's décor styles. Updating with trendy colors and fresh fabrics gives a good piece of furniture new life.

Alchemy Fine Living has a small storefront near the MainPlace mall in Santa Ana. The larger portion of the loft-like building, however, is reserved for refurbishing furniture for clients.

"Customers love the idea that they can keep a piece of furniture that means something to them but have it in an entirely new way," Rodriguez said.

The bulk of their business is refurbishing furniture for designers and homeowners.

But evolving again, they have initiated private painting and upholstery lessons, and they host group workshops once a month.

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